The Rev. Dr. Jeremy Berg is the founding and lead pastor of MainStreet Covenant Church in Minnetonka Beach, MN, where he has served since 2010. He is an adjunct professor of Biblical and Theological Studies who has taught classes at Bethel University, University of Northwestern—St. Paul, North Central University, Crown College, and Solid Rock Discipleship School. Jeremy earned a doctorate in New Testament Context under Scot McKnight at Northern Seminary (Chicago). He and his wife, Kjerstin, have three kids, Peter, Isaak and Abigail.
The Internet Monk had an article on the Role of the Sermon in Evangelical Worship. I have been doing a lot of thinking and having a lot of conversations about Bible teaching and sermon crafting. The role of the sermon in evangelical church life can hardly be overstated. What other human institution or organization banks everything … More The iMonk on the Role of the Sermon
Every fall youth pastors must decide which direction we’re going to take our students in our Bible teaching. And, in my experience, this is not always a clear-cut decision and there are a thousand different topics I’d love to tackle. So, we all must go through some discernment process, prayerful consideration and preparation. Here are … More Youth Pastors & Message Topic Selection
This week our study in Romans (“The God Report”) takes us to what one pastor titled his sermon “The Dark Exchange.” Paul addresses the pagan metropolis of ancient Rome with the following critique — which is relevant today as 2,000 years ago: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave … More Mark Driscoll, Nightline & American Idolatry
The entire Christian life is, at its core, a wake up call. Here is the scene: The world was lost in the darkness of night, living in the shadow of death and anxiously awaiting a promised new day when God’s light would finally shine forth (Isa. 59:9). Isaiah’s watchman asked, “What of the night? How … More ALARM CLOCK 2: The God Who Raises the Shade
We begin a devotional series today reflecting on some spiritual lessons and biblical insights from the all-too-familiar process of waking up every morning. Enjoy! Six-o-clock. The alarm has sounded. The sun is peeking through the half-raised shade, piercing your squinting eyes as you roll over to hit the snooze bar for a third time. It … More ALARM CLOCK 1: Christmas Gifts & Final Exams
How does the Bible exercise authority and guide our lives as people living in a post-modern age? N.T. Wright, bishop in the Church of England, addresses this issue in his must-read essay/lecture How Can The Bible Be Authoritative? Please check out the entire essay HERE. Below is an excerpt giving a taste of his narrative … More Narrative Theology: N.T. Wright’s Five-Act Hermeneutic
I was blogging this morning in my study when a little furry visitor scurried in to say hi. Yes, we have a chipmunk in our house! He tried sneaking up on me in my study. This was a huge violation of my sacred space. I jumped up and said, “Hey, stop right there Mister!” and … More The Undercover Chipmunk Spy & Book Thief
An inquisitive high school freshman from our youth group emailed me the following question today: Q:“What do you think the Bible means by the Kingdom of God?” This is such a central theme of the NT and yet it is so dynamic and varied in its uses and references that one does not blame someone … More Q & A – The Kingdom of God in a Nutshell
“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” – C. S. Lewis
I’m a podcast addict. I haven’t listened to my car stereo forever. My CDs are collecting dust and the songs on my iPod are far outnumbered by all of the podcast sermons, lectures, radio programs I subscribe to. While I listen to my staple sermons each week by my favorite pastors (Greg Boyd, David Johnson, … More My Top 3: Cultural Commentators
As I prepare my Romans “The God Report” messages for our senior high group each week I will be posting some reflections and insights along the way. Let’s begin with the way Paul introduces himself to the Roman church. One of the small group “mixer” activities we like to do is called “Myself in 10 … More ROMANS: Meet Paul (1:1-7)
Jesus Creed recently alerted me to a post by Jen Bradbury on “Outcome Based Education” for our youth groups. She asks youth ministers what they hope their students will take away from our ministry before they graduate on to college. Read her full POST here. Otherwise, I thought she nailed all of the “biggies” I certainly … More Desired Outcomes for Youth Ministry
A recent USA Today story discusses well-known Christian Brian McLaren and a small group of Christians who are joining with Muslims in their observance of Ramadan fasts. Here’s an excerpt from the article: In announcing his Ramadan fast plans on his blog last month, McLaren wrote, “We are not doing so in order to become … More Christians Fasting for Ramadan
Everyday we are inundated with messages that shape and influence our view of the world. The Information Age provides us with many sources of information and news, cultural commentary and political spin. We are taught what to think but not how. We are given much to chew on but little advice on what we should and should not … More New Romans Series: “The God Report”
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
As a bright-eyed, blond-haired lanky kid who ate, drank and slept basketball from an early age through high school, I was one of the lucky generation who got to watch MJ, Bird, Magic, Barkley, Robinson, Ewing Tuesdays on TNT and those Sunday afternoon doubleheaders on NBC. I spent nearly every night in the basement watching … More Michael Jordan: My Fallen Hero
“No one’s written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.” -Barrack Obama in his controversial speech to school children “It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of … More Obama: Who’s Writing Our Destiny?
These are not the BEST books I’ve read. There are definitely books more profound, better written, more well-known and vastly more influential. But there are books that we read at certain times in our own spiritual and intellectual journeys that just come at the perfect time to open new windows of thought, challenge previous convictions … More My Top 3: Impacting Books
“All things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:17). Have you seen Louie’s message about the human molecule called “Laminin” that holds the human body together? Check this video out and let me know what you think? “For you created my … More Louie Giglio: Laminin
Here’s a relevant topic for youth pastors. How do you address the topic of “cursing” with teens without sounding stuffy and pharasaic, old-fashioned and legalistic? I believe Brett McCracken comes at it from the right angle and with the right message. It’s not so much about the rightness or wrongness of actual words, but rather … More “Christian Cussing” (Brett McCracken)
Richard Dawkins, aggressive atheist and author of the bestselling The God Delusion, asks of what value are theologians anyway: “What has theology ever said that is of the smallest use to anybody? When has theology ever said anything that is demonstrably true and is not obvious? I have listened to theologians, read them, debated against … More What good are theologians?
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:8-9). … More PHILIPPIANS 32: Think On These Things (4:8-9)
“I think these younger Christians are the vanguard of some major new religious, social, and political arrangements that could make the older form of culture wars obsolete. After they wrestle with doubts and objections to Christianity many come out on the other side with an orthodox faith that doesn’t fit the current categories of liberal … More QUOTABLES: Tim Keller
I have so far in this series highlighted the inadequacies of two of the key aspects of the popular human system of social ethics: (1) that human beings have the ability to wisely and justly direct the course of history, and (2) that humanly created structures, powers, and programs are able means to bring lasting … More Cruciform Justice 10: The War of the Lamb
Kingdom Harbor 